Carry-on 88 Key White Portable Folding Digital Piano by Blackstar USB MIDI Controller with Rechargeable Battery
| Weight: | 454 g |
| Size: | 88 Key |
| Dimensions: | 132.4 x 12.6 x 2.1 cm; 453.59 Grams |
| Model: | BA203010 |
| Colour: | White |
| Batteries Included: | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Colour: | White |
| Size: | 88 Key |
Me parece maravilloso, por fin un teclado para poder llevar a cualquier lugar, siempre me ha parecido una faena no poder llevar mi instrumento por ah.
Suena bastante bien, y tiene muchsimos tipos de sonidos y para transportar en caso de que os cueste como a mi.
Una p. pasada! disfrutarlo!
Si studia praticamente ovunque, la pieghi e la apri in pochi gesti. Ingombro minimo
Pros-
Light weight
Full size keys
Reasonable sound
Cons-
You need to be careful not to break the hinge as it looks fragile.
No carrying case
I have a piano and a quality keyboard. I wanted a keyboard I could travel with. This product just fits my needs. I am a beginner and try to practice at least 30 minutes a day and am making good progress. If I am out of town, I wanted access to a keyboard for practice so I could continue my daily practicing. When I am at home I use my piano or more expensive keyboard.
In order to make the keyboard light and portable, only one small speaker was included. If you want better sound, plug-in some good earphones and it will improve the sound greatly.
Compr en Amazon Warehouse. Barato, bueno, bonito y excelente servicio. Es casi un juguete a primera vista, pero una muy buena compra al final. Sino necesitas teclas sensibles es fenomenal… incluso conectado a DAW.
Fr mich unwichtig:
Klang, Funktionen, Aussehen
Fr mich wichtig:
+ kleines Gert
+ einfach zum Mitnehmen
+ normale Tastenbreite (hat 16,5cm fr eine Oktave, also 7 weien Tasten)
+ Akkubetrieb
+ Kopfhreranschluss
Was hat es noch +/-
+ 4 Oktaven auf 2 zusammenklappbar
+ 2 eingebaute Kontroll-Lautsprecher (klingen natrlich sehr schwach)
+ Klang ber Kopfhrer ist je nach Kopfhrer entsprechend besser
+ 128 verschiedene Klnge (Voice) nicht besonders, aber zum ben mehr als ausreichend
+ 128 Rhythmen (Styles) nicht gerade von Yamaha aber ausreichend zum ben
+ 2 Oktaven rauf oder runter verschiebbar
+ Demolieder, Tempo, Metronom, Lautstrkeregelung ist ok, und Auswahltasten
+ USB-Stecker Versorgung und Aufladung (wie beim Handy)
Was mir nicht so gefllt:
– das vordere Gelenk zum Klappen
wirkt filigran und schwchlich, und muss mit mindestens drei Finger, davon 2 Fingerngel, bedient werden. Ich versuche behutsam damit umzugehen.
– die Tasten haben alle einen sehr geringen Hub, ca. 5mm, es geht aber trotzdem gut und leicht darauf zu spielen.
– Manche Tasten haben Materialspannungen und sind teilweise bis zu 1mm nach unten gebogen, strt aber erstaunlicher Weise auch nicht beim Spielen, sieht aber optisch wirklich nicht gut aus.
– Das Tastendesign hat mir anfangs gar nicht gefallen, man gewhnt sich aber daran.
Zu beachten:
Es muss auf einer geraden Flche aufliegen. Auf den Knien ohne guter Unterlage (Brett) wird es bald kaputt sein.
Man muss es gut behandeln, aber das muss man eine Geige auch.
Anfnger sollten sicher auf einer richtigen Tastatur lernen, aber fr zwischendurch ist es sicher auch fr Anfnger OK.
Zusammenfassung:
Unterm Strich ist es bis auf die Optik genau das, was ich gesucht habe, und es gibt nichts vergleichbares, alles Andere ist fr meine Ansprche nicht geeignet.
This is wonderful for travelling and has a convenient carry bag. Easy to assemble and the sound is surprisingly clear and has a good tone. Very happy!!! My family are thrilled!
Loved the foldability and the sturdiness. 88 keys as well. Sound was ok but much improved when we wire plugged a small speaker in. Judy great for a beginner to continue practice when way from home. I’d imagine good fun at a party to.
This keyboard is really good. It has so many voices and rythms.
Let’s start with the good stuff:
* This folding keyboard takes up almost no room when folded and it only weighs a few pounds. It feels a bit like a magic trick when you pull this full-size keyboard out of its bag.
* It offers full-width 88 keys just like a regular piano.
* The keyboard feels a bit better made due to the metal bottom plate than its price might suggest.
* The folding mechanism feels solid. All wires are carefully enclosed in strong, but flexible plastic. That isn’t likely to be a point of failure later, no matter how many times you fold or unfold it.
* 64-key polyphony means you could mash down 64 of the 88 keys all at once and they’d all play normally without being cut off. That’s pretty good for a piano of this price.
* The piano offers the full standard midi sound set, 128 sound samples.
* The internal battery lets you play for a good while before you need to recharge.
* There are built-in stereo speakers that are reasonably loud (but they’re not great sounding, so use the headphone-in jack).
* The included USB cable charges the keyboard and allows midi-via-USB, so it can be used as a midi controller for you favorite software.
* There piano includes a plastic sustain pedal.
* Built-in metronome and included note stickers for first-time players. (You have to manually apply the stickers if you want to use them.)
* The carrying bag is cloth and good quality with a snap closure. It is big enough for everything that ships with the piano with room left over for sheet mystic or headphones or whatever.
I don’t think this would be great for someone who is a serious pianist because there are a number of compromises:
* The keyboard sections do not lock together when unfolded, so you need to place the keyboard on a solid surface. I suppose this could be slightly positive if you need to play on a curved surface, but who does that and this keyboard won’t work with the typical keyboard stand that just has 2 or three bars that hold up the keyboard.
* The keyboard keys are full-width, but not full-length. This might throw off people used to playing a standard size keyboard. I will say that the ratio between the length of the black and white keys seems to remain the same as a standard piano.
* The black keys barely stick up above the white keys. They really should have increased the folded spacing between sections to allow for higher black keys.
* The key action tends to be noisy. Sort of like clicking on a mechanical keyboard (though that is a positive in one way because playing near the top of the key is just as easy and reliable as playing near the bottom.
* The built-in midi sound set is not the best I’ve ever heard.
* The sustain pedal uses a non-standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, so you’re stuck using the pedal that came with the unit. Also, the wire length could be a bit longer, though in most seated or standing setups it should be able to reach the floor.
* The speakers aren’t the best in terms of sound quality. Not terrible, but not great. Thankfully the headphone output is clean.
* Although the unit has something like 30 built-in demo songs, it has no recording memory. If you want to record, you need to use something external or the midi controller functionality.
* The USB charging/midi output cable is way too short. I wish it had a 6-foot cable at least. I think it is only 3 feet long.
* The keys aren’t velocity sensitive, so you won’t be able to vary the sound levels with the action of your hands.
All-in-all, if you need a self-contained midi controller that takes up very little room or if this is a purchase for a first time player, it’s not a bad choice, especially on sale. If you’re looking to have pro quality in a portable package, look elsewhere.
Don’t expect sampled concert grand piano sounds or weighty wooden keys – but if what you need is a full-sized piano keyboard which you can play literally anywhere (rechargeable battery with decent life) and which fits easily in hand luggage, then this is an excellent choice. Our two kids are learning the piano and this has been great to enable them practice while we’re on holiday.
Only worry is the durability of hinges, no issues so far. Great product for price!
Es muy util, sobre todo si tienes poco espacio, tienes que montarlo fijando cada una de las partes pero es muy sencillo.
J’enlve une toile car il n’y a pas de capteur de sensibilit au niveau des touches, du coup pas toujours pratique mais c’est un objet intressent !
I am a Pianist/Musician that is looking to teach freelance and think this is a fantastic for any beginner/ Writer of music and to play for a basic accompany to sing along to or just for fun playing with the sounds and Rhythms. It is very light folds up into four coming with a easy to carry bag. Keyboard is rechargeable states 8 hours on one charge I have played it for 2 hours in one go. Sound not too good on their internal speakers but good enough if learning but can plug into portable speaker getting a much better sound and if plugged into a professional speaker sound is very good. Keys not feel like a normal piano but perfect for a beginner to get started for about a year and upgrade later. I like the portability as can take to other places to teach or play if no Piano available as I took it to work and played it at work as they knew I played but had never heard me play as could not take my Piano from home. I’m sure others could take it to there friends to play it for fun or to learn it professionally. Also Piano is a space saver for the house due to it foldability which I am sure lots will like where do you see you storing yours. It is basic but we all got to start from somewhere and if you want to be able to take it to other friends and possibly work colleagues to have fun with or just want if for yourself at home I recommend the Carry on 88 Keys Portable Folding Digital Piano
Exceptionally lightweight. Transpose function and metronome extremely useful. Bought to do quick compositions and practise for planning kids’ music workshops.
Not touch sensitive and volume is quite low without plugging in to speakers. The quality of the tone isn’t great without adding headphones or a good speaker, even then I wouldn’t use it for professional work, but it is an absolutely brilliant bit of kit for personal work.
Great item, fast delivery, well made, great sound and effects!
I’m an adult learner studying grade 5. This has been very useful to continue learning when I’m not at home. I wouldn’t recommend it for a main piano, but it is decent enough as a temporary solution.
If they are working on a version 2 of this device I’d suggest improving: the quality of the hinges, the rigidity when open, the key pressing action, and adding velocity sensitivity would be a fantastic extra.
My son loves this it’s lightweight you can take it anywhere
Bought as a present for musician and composer who is very impressed with the quality and mobility
Suena muy bien aunque el volumen mximo es muy bajito y se siguen escuchando las teclas. Eso s, tiene la posibilidad de conectarlo a un amplificador.
Es ideal para practicar y poder llevarlo a cualquier sitio.
Las teclas tienen poca resistencia y poco recorrido, no creo que sirva para un uno semiprofesional o profesional.
ecesita una mesa fija para poder tocar el piano sin problemas
klingt gut, Anschlag knnte gefhrter sein, platzsparend und einfach aufzubauen – gut wre ein zugehriges Gerst zum Aufbauen mit Hhenverstellung, um das Klavier darauf aufzubauen, da es fr einen durchschnittlichen Tisch zu lang und zu ist.
Very sturdy and lightweight, connects to my tablet via a midi connector which enables me to connect it to simply piano. Conveniently I’m able to blue tooth attach my headphones,which in turn allows me to hear the keyboard notes and the simply piano app both at the same time.
I hate that the keys are made out of really cheap plastic, and when u play them they make a noise due to cheap materials or build quality. The keys aren’t touch sensitive either and looking how it folds I’m not sure why they can’t be. I’ve had a few cheap keyboards and the sound quality and the key material etc were all whey better than this.
Great to take this away with us in the motorhome. Plays well, sounds well.
Es super comodo de transportar y aunque el sistema de altavoz no es bueno, si que funciona genial. A lo mejor si se pudiera incorporar la funcin bluetooht (para conectar un altavoz inalambrico) seria genial.
We were impressed by the way the keyboard folds up into an easily portable bag. The sound quality is surprisingly good.
Non un pianoforte n una tastiera di buon livello, ma fa il suo lavoro in proporzione alle sue caratteristiche. Ottimo rapporto qualit-prezzo
Gave this to my daughter who used to love playing the piano for Xmas – and she was instantly hooked. Good sound, can be used without any wires (i.e. battery), used with headphones, has a peddle and is ultra portable. What’s not to love and at this price, a bargain and a treat. Thoroughly recommended.
Je suis plutt surpris par ce piano! il est gnial en terme de qualit. Les touches fesables et la fonction MIDI c’est ce que je prfre. Pour les musicien c’est une bonne ide de cadeau, je conseille.
Bought this as a joke for my husband & he loves it! Although I could throw it out the window sometimes with the amount he’s used it!!
Very recommended for those with not much space
I use it for small gigs with size restrictions and party’s and practice, great thing
This is great if you are on the go and need something to work on. The sound is OK. If you have a person or child that would like to consider playing … I think it is great .
This keyboard is amazing …so compact and usable ! for the price i don’t think anything comes close …people will moan about key height …speakers … but when you hook it up to a sound system it’s brilliant … if you want a good quality keyboard …for less than 100 pounds …buy this !
J’ai achet le clavier 49 touches pour sa portabilit, pour pianot un peu la vole dans plusieurs situations, bref, un peu comme un guitariste emporterai sa guitare. De ce fait, j’ai trouv le concept de pouvoir le plier en deux parfait pour mon utilisation. voir s’il dure dans le temps, la sonorit reste correcte si on a pas de hautes exigences. Je recommande ce produit, dans un cradre de clavier d’appoint pour plaquer quelques accords en dplacement, ou la vole la maison, si on veux en faire tranquilement la nuit sans avoir besoin d’aller sur le grand piano !!
There I was at 3am; laying in bed listening to songs on auto-play when The Kid Larois’ – Stay started to play.
”Would be sick to be able to play that on piano” said I. Having played piano as a kid, I thought sod it & purchased this foldy-boi and I gotta’ say, i’m sold on it. It’s fun, great for beginners and hella portable. If you’re a pro, you’ll probably hate it. But if you’ve ever had the urge to learn The Kid Laroi – Stay on piano, then this could be the keyboard for you.
And yes, I have since learnt how to play the song. 10/10
Bough for my son that just had a baby. He needed something portable to play him songs to calm him down or put to sleep. He is enjoying the instrument.
My only complaint is that the keys feel substantially wider than regular keys. I am only learning so this felt more noticeable that I might be learning incorrectly. Also.. I could be wrong about this.. but I think I am right..
its good for what i need it for – i dont play piano, i just use it for chords and tapping out melodies for my singing lessons. its great for that, but i dont think it would be good enough if you wanted to play properly. but very light and portable, and nice and small to put away if you dont have much space.
Unica pecca che mi sento di dire: la custodia in stoffa sarebbe stata meglio qualcosa di pi rigido perch onestamente non mi fiderei a trasportarla in giro l dentro! Le cerniere non sembrano resistentissime e quindi penso debba essere comunque maneggiata e trasportata con attenzione e cura!
Io non l’ho presa per portarla in giro, ma per avere una tastiera 88 tasti da poter allungare sulla scrivania di fronte a me, senza averla sempre in mezzo ai piedi quando lavoro al computer, ma senza essere costretto a metterla troppo lontana e dover suonare per ore in modo scomodissimo. In questo senso mi ha cambiato la vita!
In pratica ora ho una normale master keyboard sulla destra, se devo fare una parte di piano o qualcosa che richieda pi sensibilit, ma per lavorare con librerie di suoni orchestrali, synth, per cercare suoni vari, sposto in avanti la tastiera del computer, apro la Blackstar, e sono operativo! Quando ho finito la piego e torno con la mia scrivania normale. Fantastico!
Attenzione: che sia chiaro, non dinamica, quindi non legge la velocit con cui si suona. Inoltre i tasti non sono fatti come i tipici tasti da piano, ricordano piuttosto quelli di una tastiera da computer.
Detto tutto questo, motlo pi suonabile di quanto sembri e, nell’ottica dell’uso che ne faccio io, molto utile.
Enables me to learn the piano even though I do not have a large place to practice. So means I can utilise my dining table and pack away after use.
Sound is not as good as I would like but it is exactly as I expected based on description and reading prior reviews. Perhaps one day they’ll make one with weighted keys, but in the mean time this makes an excellent portable and storable solution to this frequently moving person who has been in search of a piano I could play without disturbing family or neighbours. Still trying to discover if there’s a way to have sound from both piano and computer through headphones when connected to the computer. If not possible that would be my only minor complaint.
No tote bag for storage, which comes with the 88-key model
El piano se ve de gandisima calidad pesadi y material compacto por desgracia yo pedi dos y los dos vinieron defectuosos uno en una tecla negra y el otro en la tecla blanca de ai que no le de 5 estrellas si supiera que esto no pasara le daria otra oportunidad porque me quede con muchas ganas de tenerlo pero claro dos defectuoso no me da confianza pero supongo que esto es mala surte porque el sonido es muy bueno y el altavoz incorporado suena ntido y alto me pensare si volverlo a compra
My reason for buying this is simply to have a short, lightweight keyboard for finger practice when travelling. This thing serves the purpose perfectly. Having said that the keyboard feel and sound is shocking, but underthe circumstances I can live with it. This make my Korg Kronos sound and feel even better!
Such a clever keyboard. I can practice without disturbing the rest of the house. I just wish the keys were a bit deeper but that’s a small compromise.
I bought this to take to my caravan so I didn’t miss out on practice. Perfect for this. Good sound and has full 88 keys. Folds away bout solid in natire
The sound quality may not be up to Yamaha standards but when put through a reasonable speaker the tone is more than satisfactory. The touch is light (the same technology as a computer keyboard) so that total beginners will get a good sound with out effort or get into bad habits because they are having to press down too hard.
The ability to compose or transcribe music using the USB cable and MuseScore3 (free download) is really useful.
Slight criticisms are as follows.
1) The keyboard does not have locking rods so that it is static and be can put on a stand. I built a reinforced plywood tray to over come this issue. The reason is probably so that players don’t try to fold the piano away when it is locked and break it.
2) As the 88 key version is in four sections it is easy to unfold it upside down and for the keys near the joins to pop out of their housings.
3)There is no keypad so you have to scroll through to change the voice you require from the 128 available.
4) As the colour is all white (apart from the black keys) there is the potential that it will get very discoloured or dirty easily.
5) The 49 key version should be cheaper (1.00 a note)
Absolutely love my folding piano (49 keys). This was bought as a second keyboard so I can play in other parts of the house, as my RockJam keyboard on its stand is a faff to move. My CarryOn is increasingly becoming my prime piano. Only problem I had is connecting the midi cable to an iPad to use the SimplyPiano app. Worked fine on an Android device using the wire that was in the box, plus a USB to USB micro adapter. iPad complained of power issues (seems to be the iPad’s issue rather than the keyboard). Issue solved using an iPad camera adapter. Plenty of these out there, but I used https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08FYBYFN5?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share. Hope that helps others having the same issue. Otherwise, I am over the moon with the piano.
This is perfect for small parties and outdoor gatherings over the summer, though the array of sounds never quite sound like a piano. I found the base in front of the keys a little in the way, but others with a better style of playing shouldn’t have a problem.
Venditore serio! Veloce la consegna e il prodotto per quello che serve fantastico lo porti ovunque e ti diverti un sacco!
This keyboard fits nicely into a ruck-sack and when opened up gives you a 4-octave 49 key keyboard. The on-line instruments sound good but when you plug in a MIDI USB lead to a computer with something like Live Professor, for which there is a free version there are literally hundreds if not thousands of VSTi plug-ins that you can use to convert your keyboard into practically every known keyboard instrument known to man.
Live Professor also supports multiple audio outputs as many as eight, you could even buy several of these keyboard instruments and play like Tony Banks or Rick Wakeman. Whatever takes your fancy but the best thing about this keyboard is the keys are not too big or small and they play nicely.
Muscipula
Ideal for students without space for full size keyboard. Not just for beginners as can be used with PC to record to pro software. Only downside is keys not weighted but expected for the price.
Great purchase for my grandchild in a small apartment so I can continue to teach her. This piano has a Miraculous number of options snd good sound. I’ll purchase another for my other children. Luv this. Best value
Great when needing to carry around. It’s compact when folded, no bigger than a lady’s medium-size bag.
Pedal is a bonus. Sound quality OK (not great). Tons of “instruments” and styles.
The keys are the same width as piano keys, so very handy if you are transferring to or from a piano (although slightly shorter in length – but only likely to be an issue if you’re practicing anything very technical!).
As a beginners keyboard or for early home piano practice, this would be a good buy. The keys are not pressure sensitive, so you can’t play loudly or softly just by pressing harder or softer. There is a volume control, with a sensible upper limit that’s unlikely to annoy neighbours. The piano tone is reasonable, and can be switched for harpsichord, softer tone etc. The keyboard has a range of demos, a range of different tones/instruments (under “voice”, and a range of preset accompaniments that you can set with bass clef notes. Tempo on all these can be adjusted up or down, as can the metronome – which can be set to highlight 3, 4, 5 (etc) beats per bar. (Metronome settings are by speed, rather than being able to use beats per minute.) Using the functions is pretty intuitive,
The keyboard can run on its battery, or comes with a short USB charger cable.
As a starter keyboard, or for home piano practice, this is pretty handy, and folds up in seconds to protect the keys and create space. If buying for a child I’d recommend adult supervision as this does have non-rounded corners, could knock off surfaces easily, and should not be treated as a toy.
Didn’t try the sustain pedal, but that comes with it, and it also has a jack for headphones (not supplied).
Would be handy if this came with a music stand and a padded carry case to make it more transportable (and instructions for chair and keyboard height for sensible writ position if you’re being picky!) – but as a beginners keyboard and for home use this is very playable.
If you want to keep your arthritic fingers moving then then is ideal. It sits happily on the desk when in use and folds easily away when not required. Light but well built. Lots of different tones which sound best through headphones. Its amplifier is not brilliant but then for the size one can’t expect much more.
I am glad I purchased this: pretty good value.
This is an amazingly compact and portable keyboard. It also makes it very easy to store when not in use as opposed to the long full size ones, which I have also and they do take up a lot of space.
This is perfect to learn on, myself and my family play a small amount of piano so we’re all eager to learn, we also compose music so are having fun trying out all of the features on this.
In my video I show the demo mode, rhythm mode, metronome and some of the key sounds. There’s many variations in each category and something for everyone. This also comes with a sustain pedal which I didn’t demonstrate, but once we have this rigged up with a stand it will be great. My video shows how some of sounds make the lower keys very quiet and some barely audible, it’s not on every sound but could be potentially problematic if you enjoy that certain instrument or effect and need the lower notes.
There’s a headphones port so the children can play quietly which is perfect and the folding mechanism is easy, you unfold and then lock the latch and then release the latch and fold when needed again.
On a single charge this lasts around 8 hours which should be more than enough and then it’s ready to charge up again with the cable provided.
It’s fanatically compact and so light. It’s narrower than your standard keyboards but that’s because it doesn’t waste space listing what all the rhythms and modes are like other keyboards.
Fantastic to learn on or to even busk with as it’s very portable! I’d recommend, very well designed and fun to use.
This is a good keyboard for when we get to travel again. Being 49 near fullsized keys its a good midi kekboard to attach to my laptop. Didnt really need the speakers on it personally, and the sounds are only OK at best, bust it does mean you can play it alone. For me it was a good purchase for travel need I have. Light weight and compact when folded.
Having never played the piano and not sure how I would fair this is a perfect thing to start to see whether piano is the thing for you
I am learning how to play the piano with apps, and I needed one of these for when I’m away from home or on my travels.
Very handy for practice anywhere
Can sit on your lap conveniently
It is rechargeable and seems to have a large battery which lasts for a reasonably long time
This one comes handy because
It’s portable
It’s extremely light (1KG)
Very compact Thin
The Piano folds down into 2 and has magnets at each edge to keep it from flipping when closed
It does not come with a case or bag.
I purchased the following case/bag on Amazon for it, and it fits Perfectly well (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07Q2TTB75/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
When connected to MIDI I have not had any issues with the keys not being recognised by Apps such as Flowkey & Yousican
The downside to this: When Plugged in with my Android Phone or Tablet for MIDI functionality, because it uses the same USB port for charging and MIDI output, it charges the PIANO battery – which draws power from my phone and tablet – hence the 4 stars
So I tend not to use the MIDI functionality
My devices’ microphone recognises the piano keys without any issues
The sound quality is not the best but acceptable for what I need it for
The hinges seem fragile
But I still highly recommend this for a piano learner or for its portability
I am a beginner, who was looking for a compact, affordable, yet good quality learning piano. This fits the brief perfectly. Yes, there are some issues with non-pressure sensitive keys but hey, this is the first version and i expect the company to update that in the next version. As an engineer, this product is very exciting and i am looking forward to how this product develops over the years.
Really impressive piece of kit. We didn’t have space for a full size piano in our small flat and this helps to fill the void for my music loving wife. She enjoys playing it. Only comment is the ‘piano’ sounds are a bit tinny, nothing like the real thing. That being said, for a keyboard style piano with onboard speakers that was to be expected to some extent. Still though, it would have been nice to have been slightly richer in sound.
Smaller than I hope. Can do some exercises but can’t play music like the real piano
Sound is not wonderful. However a very clever machine that gives a full size piano to practice on which folds up to something very small. Nice to have the bag as everything goes in that. On the whole pleased with this product. One of the keys came off but I managed to put it back successfully. The midi connection makes it possible to connect to ipad etc which is good.
I bought this for my daughter as we dont have room for a piano. She loves it!
It would be a bonus to have proper charging point. But wonderful concept well done blackstar!
So i bought this item because i work on a ship and wanted something small and portable. This definitely fits the bill .
The sound quality is lacking however when plugged into a decent speaker it offers a far better experience. The 3.5mm connector comes in handy to put through any speaker.
The playablilty is very good, you can depress multiple keys simultaneously and not lose the quality however the keys have no pressure sensitivity so its a case of note at full volume of no note at all.
The Piano folds down into a very transportable size and the bag offers a nice way to transport it however i have kept the box which is far better and has a carry handle.
overall a really good item for the price, it has been really useful during the lockdown and is ideal for someone looking to learn with restrictions for space. The piano is really sturdy and the components are all very good quality.
Sounds a little tinny and you need a long flat surface to rest it i
Although I`m still learning, it`s excellent for practice, with the full 88 keys of a standard piano. It`s well worth the asking price. The BIG plus with this is MIDI. I use Cubase`s Halion on the laptop, (which gives unlimited voices, with better quality. ). On connecting the keyboard via the usb cable to the laptop, it was instantly recognised by Cubase/Halion, and was able to play any voice, I`ve played a Steinway Grand Piano! (the keyboard`s voices are muted).
The keyboard is probably best used this way if you`re a composer, or a more professional player, and require better sound output.
The few minus points? I worry about the strength of the hinges, they have too much play, and need care unfolding. The depth of the keys (front to back) are slightly less than a standard keyboard, but acceptable. Also the connecting section flat ribbon cable could be more robust, to cope with constant folding/unfolding. Last, the onboard speakers are small, so don`t expect too much bass. The built-in voices are are ok, but a little `tinny` because of this.
Apart from this, its a very good pactice keyboard, and I`m pleased with mine.
What a piano! I can’t believe you can fold it and take it anywhere with you. Sound quality is very very close to the original piano and great value for money. Well done who created this.
As an occasional and beginner player this keyboard has exceeded my expectations. Good sound regarding the size of it, very compact, fits literally anywhere. All around great product and good value for money. My kids love it too.
Thank you for great product and excellent service !!!
But, as a layman, and as someone who really wants to learn to play the keyboard/piano… I love it!
Before receiving this I’d been looking at keyboards, but was but off at their size and the room they’d take up. The fact that the ones I was looking at were 40-60 keys yet took up more space than this 88 key one is amazing.
Hopefully, as you can see from my photos and video (the video isn’t the best as it’s difficult to film with one hand while opening with the other) the keyboard takes up almost no space and takes just seconds to open up and out. The only things you have to do are push the clips in to secure it when open, then raise them and the small ‘holding’ pegs when closing and storing.
Sound-wise I have no complaints though I’ve just really used sounds 1 & 2 which are your generic keyboard/piano sounds, you can get a good loudness on the built-in speakers with sound-clarity that more than satisfied me. The keys are a little ‘clacky’, for want of a better word, but it’s something I soon got used to and just phased out.
It’s easy to control, press the button for sound type (voice) and use the arrows to cycle through the options, same with the accompaniment tracks. It would be helpful if there was some kind of guide as to what the sounds/voices were are which as it’s a pain to have to remember your favourites or to cycle through all 128 of them. Many I doubt I’d ever use – the sound effect ones – but as I said earlier, I’m happy with 1 & 2.
The keyboard is designed to be played wirelessly, though can be played while charging through the included USB cable – the manual I believe advises you not to do this as it impacts battery life, but you can if you so wish. As well as the charging slot there is a 3.5mm for headphones and another for the included pedal.
If you’re a serious musician, I imagine it’s not a top-level device, in terms of sound quality or functionality. But, its portability and sheer convenience is a beautiful thing. You can store it and take it anywhere and can have a full 88-key keyboard there to be used in seconds, you can hook it up to PC or phone and record whatever you want literally, whenever you want.
As a beginners keyboard, I have no complaints, it does everything I want it to, has a full set of keys, and can be stored in a drawer. So, for me, it is 110% worth its price.
I have been learning to play the piano for more than 12 years now and always played with the old-fashion and not electric piano until now. I had somehow negative perceptions about electronic keyboards because they are usually smaller than the old-fashion piano ones. Also, the keys of electronic keyboards feel different when pressing compared to the non-electric piano.
This review is based on my experience playing with this Blackstar folding piano for nearly a month.
The Sound
The sound of this piano is of good quality, the volume can be adjusted. The keys are accurate. The sound has the same intensity in the upper and lower keyboard part. I also like the ability to use headphones for the sound, it made my playing experience even better (however, the quality of the sound would probably depend on the quality of the headphones).
There are a few things I found quite irritating in terms of the sound. First, each key and the pedal make an additional clicking sound when pressed (it is similar to the computer mouse clicks). This sound comes from the pressure of each key when playing. I personally did not enjoy this, so I prefer using soundproof headphones to isolate this sound and only hear the notes that I play. Furthermore, this extra clicking sound also impacts my pleasure when playing for other people as I cannot use headphones during that time.
The second thing about the sound is inability to adjust the volume moderating pressure of each key when playing. This is something I got used to playing the non-electric piano. The volume can only be adjusted pressing + or — buttons on the side and this adjustment is automatically applied to the full keyboard. Hence, if the piece has a melody line supported by background notes, it is difficult to achieve that without being able to get louder sound from certain keys while keeping the others less intense.
Comfort while playing
It is comfortable to play with this piano. Each key is a similar width to the non-electric piano which is important for those, who would learn playing on the electric keyboard but perform on the old-fashion piano (or vice versa). The pedal is also easy to set up and use.
The major difference between this keyboard and the non-electric piano is the length of the black keys. I found them shorter on this electric keyboard leaving less surface for the fingers landing on black keys. Hence, it is not as comfortable to use these keys for those, who are used to the non-electric piano.
Other features
Weight — This keyboard is really light to carry. I like that because I was not able to carry an old-fashion piano with me to play for others or just to practice. This electric keyboard allows to carry on practising even when travelling. Also, it arrives in a comfortable bag which can carry the charger cable, pedal and the keyboard protecting them from any damage. It is a very handy addition!
Metronome — This is a great feature for learners. The metronome speed can be easily adjusted using the buttons on the side. The variety of metronome speeds available to use was suitable for my needs. The sound of the metronome is clear when playing and allows to keep a steady rhythm when playing.
Battery life — I personally didn’t have any issues with battery life. I usually play an hour or so a day and the battery keeps me going for a week. I just plug it to charge from time to time and that’s it! However, I did not find how to check battery status on this keyboard so it is difficult to know how much of it is left. Another thing is that there is no indication how much battery is charged when this keyboard is plugged in to charge (the keyboard only indicates the fact that it is charging). Hence, I also cannot comment on how quickly the keyboard charges (I just leave it for a few hours and unplug it after that time).
Pedal — the pedal is connected using the wire that plugs into the keyboard. This is the same principle as the headphones (although the plugs for pedal and headphones are separate and clearly indicated on the keyboard). Hence, it is easy to use the pedal, when needed. The two things I noticed about the pedal is that a) it makes the irritating sound like a mouse button every time when my foot is pressing and b) the pedal does not make the notes last for very much longer. The pedal makes the sound long enough to fill the gaps when playing but does not create an impressive effect at the end of the piece or for the long notes in a slower piece.
Extra melodies and songs — I personally am not a fan of a background sound turned on when playing but I noticed that this keyboard has a large variety of different beats and melodies to choose from. Hence, the players who like playing with the sounds and beats of other instruments would find this feature helpful.
Variety of sounds for keys — this keyboard also has a feature of changing the type of the sound keys make (for example, makes it sound like an organ). There is a variety of sounds to choose from (128 different sounds) and I sometimes use this feature. I think it works well and makes well-known pieces sound differently.
Overall, I would rate this piano for 4.5 stars. It is good for practice and definitely comfortable to travel with. It is easy to set up and use as well as maintain it. Some features could be improved (like the clicking sound when pressing the keys or the pedal) but those are not major things that destroy the whole experience of playing. It is great for me to carry on practising and playing, especially during Covid pandemic, as accessing old-fashioned pianos became impossible to me.
The design and concept are outstanding — honestly a breakthrough in the portability of pianos. It’s very compact and lightweight, solidly built and folds and unfolds with ease. Even comes with a carrying case which is a nice touch (though I don’t feel that it’s safe to carry it in that and so I bought an EVA hard case to protect it). Midi-set up via laptop is a breeze and the control panel works well (though it does take time to move through the options).
The sound is absolutely fantastic for such portable piano — yes the speakers are not mind blowing — but that is to be expected given its size and the fact that it’s not really made to blast but rather to practice on whilst away or teach anywhere. The unique selling point here is the compactness and portability. Could even take on a holiday! I got around the speaker issue by connecting my Bose external speakers and that took the sound to a whole new level. Super pleased!
There is no mains plug adapter with it, but it can be corded (via a Micro-USB cable which is provided). Alternatively, it could be charged (takes about 90 minutes for a full charge) and a single charge would last just over 8 hours. Comes with a sustaining pedal which works well. The keys are ever so slightly narrower than normal but for the portability and excellent performance I really can’t complain — the concept, design and performance are excellent.
If this review helped, please click on the ‘helpful’ button to let others know! Thanks
if you want to learn piano or teach your children how to play piano but you just don’t have the space this is a perfect keyboard for that. It folds up very small and easy to store. The sound quality is good as you’d expect from a keyboard but phone for learners beginners and a bit of fun. It has over 100 different tones, you can also put the volume very low or high depending on your preference. Charging is easy and relatively fast and the battery lasts quite awhile. It also comes with a pedal for those of you that are more advanced. The only reason I’m out at four stars is that because it’s foldable it is quite easy to break when unfolding especially If you have young children who aren’t that careful. Otherwise brilliant.
Pros:
Very compact when folded up, I just place it on a bookshelf when not in use, unless you told someone it was a full size keyboard no one would even notice it.
Battery lasts a while, no cabledsto fiddle around with and with the inbuilt speakers you can pretty much setup anywhere to play.
MIDI support, simply plug it into a pc and set it up like any other kind of MIDI device, or alternatively just use it like a normal keyboard.
Even comes with a pedal so saved me some money too!
It’s a rather thin keyboard, fits nice and sung under my monitor.
The keys are okay too, a little light but, they feel nice to play which was good.
Cons:
Changing instruments etc takes a while. A lack of number pad means you have to cycle though the list to get to the one you want. Some of them also sound very similar, not sure if this is due to the audio quality of the keyboard as I haven’t tried plugging it into an external amp yet or headphones.
Being a foldable keyboard it was going to come with some challenges of course, you pretty much need to play this on a flat surface. If there was one extra feature I wish this product had, it would be a very simple locking mechanism to stop it folding once unfolded. That way you could even okay it on your lap.
Mediocre control panel (just takes too much time to navigate)
While these cons may put others off if you are in a similar position as I am and need to save space when not in use – this is a great option and I would highly recommend it. Especially for use with pc.
If you have the space however – there are better products out there that don’t fold and are cheaper.
I’ve included a video and a number of photos which I hope you find helpful.
It is an 88 key piano that folds up to about the size of small box and can be carried in a little tote bag or backpack. That is the most amazing thing about it for us. This compactness makes storing it far easier than a real piano or even a normal keyboard. It really is ingenious and makes transporting it to grandparents much easier.
But all that clever folding would be pointless if this sounded bad and I’m pleased to say it doesn’t. The keys feel good but the action isn’t the same as a real piano (obviously). They are quite noisy when pressed and you also do not have the sensitivity of a gentle press producing a quiet note or a heavy press making it louder… there is only one consistent tone regardless of key impact. However they are perfect for the beginner starting out or the experienced player who just wants to play.
There is also a sustain pedal included which though feels very light and plasticky, does the job when depressed, sustaining the note when you remove your finger from the keys.
The volume is just about right for home use, it gets loud enough but never too loud that you start to regret having it (as keys are bashed by younger siblings). You also have a headphone jack if you want to use those.
There are loads of sounds to play with so the little composer in you can experiment. There is also percussion support and the infamous demo mode where you can pretend to be a pro – the classic Dad joke.
Tricky bits are mainly the clever hinges and pop up key protectors. They are designed to either pop up when putting it away or lie flat when playing so that your hands don’t catch them. You can see me demonstrating them in my video but though they are a bit fiddly putting them up and down they are doable.
This is a great choice for home use, with it’s compact size (when folded), loads of sounds and feeling pretty durable, I’m impressed.
Full size keys that are responsive
Wireless with good battery life
Excellent range of sound an rhythm options
Headphone jack so no-one else in the house can hear you playing!
MIDI link for PC etc
The only con is the small built-in speaker isn’t great
For learning to play and having fun at home while being easy to pack away, this is a brilliant keyboard! My teenage daughter is over the moon with it.
Included in the box is the keyboard, power cable, pedal and a nice tote bag. It fold’s up really nice and small so I was really surprised with how long it is when folded, the keys are all easy to press and there are 128 different sound’s which is fantastic.
Overall me and my daughter are really pleased with this and I am happy to recommend.
It can be kept on the lower shelf of our coffee table or even in the bookcase without it looking unsightly. Folded, it isn’t really apparent what it could be, clean lines, nice folded design and pure white colour. Very minimalist.
But as you unfold and reveal the full-size 88 keys, it is quite beautiful. It would certainly elicit words of delight, had it not been for the current lockdown.
It’s not perfect. It is quite rudimentary and is designed more as a “fun” piano to pull out at a dinner party connecting it to MIDI over USB to achieve much better quality sound.
Alternatively, it can best be described as a ‘Beginner portable piano’ – it is not built with durability in mind. But you can’t expect that as a foldable full-size piano at this price. The keys, though have a nice feel to them, though they are not laid with care. Some feel misaligned as you play, gliding between them isn’t always seamless.
In it’s folded position, there is no latch or other fixture keeping the compact fold secure and locked in place. This makes it a bit wobbly as the weight moves between the lose sets of hinges from the multiple folds. It is a delicate device and probably would not fair well if it was accidentally dropped onto a stone floor, like ours.
There is the option to add a bit of additional sound using the 128 option pre-sets. But you need to switch between them with only the back and forward keys – there is no keypad to move swiftly between them. You might be there a while. A point to bear in mind if you plan to take this piano more seriously than the above highlighted intended market.
The drawback at this price is that you compromise on the acoustics by way of the very standard speaker this device has. To achieve any real depth, you would need to connect to a better external source. This is the most disappointing aspect for me. I would have loved to have had better speakers. The current set, let this cool looking quirky piano down.
4 stars, as the price is still rather good for what you get. Plus the MIDI over USB option makes it worthwhile.
This comes packed in not one, but two branded boxes, the innermost being a nice looking retail package. It includes the keyboard, power cable, pedal and a nice tote bag, all of which is well protected by foam padding which kept it in really good condition during shipping.
As a portable keyboard, this is immediately impressive in that it’s full size. Setting it up is quite easy, though there are 2 sprung push in pegs which did not want to go down, and required the latches to be held open which kind of requires 3 hands… not too big of a deal, and maybe they will loosen up over time. Other than that, it’s well made and everything works very well.
Playing the keyboard is… a mixed bag. The playing experience is to be brutally honest, inferior to even the most basic weighted keyboard. Besides having no weight, the depth of the keys is too shallow, and the front lip of the frame kind of gets in the way. To be clear, I would absolutely not recommend this to anyone learning or teaching the piano, or to anyone that wants to pull this out and play piano music on it.
For anyone looking to compose music on the go, or just for fun, i’s a much more appealing proposition, but it’s limitations to a trained musician will be readily apparent at all times, so set your expectations accordingly.
Overall this does what it sets out to do in providing a portable 88 key keyboard, and I would recommend it with the aforementioned caveats.
This carry-on piano by Blackstar suits my needs perfectly. It is very lightweight but still feels sturdy when laid out. The keys feel a little narrower than I remember from an upright but it doesn’t take long to adjust. The sound quality at the volume we will use (relatively low levels for the sake of my neighbours) is totally fine. As the volume goes, up the sound can get a little tinny but this can be resolved by outsourcing the sound to a speaker. The quality is also good though a headset.
The keys feel solid and well made. They are very responsive to touch and have a more piano feel than other keyboards I’ve tried. The controls are straightforward. You can change between 128 sounds and use the 30 demos available using the control panel on the left of the piano. You get the benefit of 88 keys for a realistic experience.
This piano is usb chargeable with built in rechargeable battery that offers up to 8 hours of play – fantastic for taking on the go. You only get the usb cable and no mains plug converter which would be helpful. The cable could also do with being longer if I had to pick holes.
The fact that it can be taken out and played and the folded away neatly to be stored every time is so convenient to me. My children really love to watch me play and to play it themselves. It’s the perfect introductory piano that gives you a realistic piano feel, at home or out and about, without the cost, the space and the investment.
The tote bag that comes with the piano is an after thought. I wouldn’t ever store the piano in this even on the go as there is no protection whatsoever. All in all, I feel that the piano itself is fabulous for my needs and deserves 5 stars. The additions are just not that great and I can imagine that most people would expect and appreciate that attention to detail.
Thanks for reading. If you found my review helpful, please let me know below.
Overall it’s very compact and travels well without any issues with sound quality and i can definitely see myself taking this with me wherever i go. It’s quite an unusual set up as it can be charged via USB, But feels quite natural when i run my fingers through the scales, Thanks to the normal sized keys that I’m used to using.